Engineering Manager - Europe in London

Engineering Manager - Europe in London

London Full-Time 43200 - 72000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
Plaid

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and grow a dynamic team of engineers, driving innovation in financial technology.
  • Company: Join Plaid, a pioneering fintech company transforming how people manage their finances.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to empowering financial freedom for all.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of finance while working with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: 8+ years in tech, with strong leadership and engineering management experience.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 € per year.

We believe that the way people interact with their finances will drastically improve in the next few years. We’re dedicated to empowering this transformation by building the tools and experiences that thousands of developers use to create their own products. Plaid powers the tools millions of people rely on to live a healthier financial life. We work with thousands of companies like Venmo, SoFi, several of the Fortune 500, and many of the largest banks to make it easy for people to connect their financial accounts to the apps and services they want to use. Plaid’s network covers 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada, UK and Europe.

Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, Washington D.C., London and Amsterdam. Plaid Europe is building Plaid in Europe—the open banking platform that makes international expansion one click away for fintechs who want to scale globally. We are the only transatlantic open banking provider, uniquely positioned to help fintechs scale globally with a single Plaid integration. Our team localises, scales, and operates the bank connectivity layer that powers payments, underwriting, onboarding, and identity—abstracting fragmented European rails and regulations into a single, reliable platform.

This team operates at the intersection of distributed systems, financial infrastructure, and consumer UX. We solve hard problems in payments reliability, data quality, regulatory complexity, and cross-market expansion—enabling fintechs to launch in new countries with minimal additional engineering effort. We are a high-impact, cross-functional engineering team working closely with US platform teams, GTM, compliance, and operations to make Plaid the default open banking layer for global fintechs operating in Europe.

You will serve as the Engineering Lead for Europe, managing a team of 9+ engineers directly while serving as a member of the small leadership team and working closely with your cross-functional peers. This is more than just a single-team manager role; it’s the senior-most engineering leader in Europe, operating with a high degree of autonomy and acting as a co-owner of Plaid’s European operations.

The Team Owns Four Core Pillars:

  • Account-to-Account Payments
  • Cash Flow & Income Insights for Credit
  • Bank Connectivity Across Europe
  • Consumer Experience

Responsibilities:

  • Lead and grow a team of 9+ engineers, from mid-level to Staff, through clear goals, coaching, and direct feedback, building a strong, accountable team culture.
  • Set and drive the technical and product direction for Plaid in Europe, partnering closely with Product, Design, and business leaders to decide what we build and why.
  • Work across teams to shape the roadmap, spot high-leverage opportunities, and make clear tradeoffs between speed, risk, and long-term investments.
  • Go deep on technical design when needed, unblocking complex problems and maintaining a high bar for quality and reliability in production.
  • Represent engineering in leadership discussions, helping guide business decisions and align European priorities with broader company strategy.

Qualifications:

  • 8+ years of industry experience, that includes time as a Staff-level engineer before transitioning into management.
  • 2-3+ years of engineering management experience.
  • Track record of building and growing strong engineering teams through coaching, clear goal-setting, and raising the talent bar.
  • Experience owning a production product area and partnering closely with Product and business stakeholders to drive outcomes.
  • Experience designing and evolving scalable, reliable systems that support real-world products at scale.
  • Strong technical judgment, with the ability to dive deep into architecture and unblock complex cross-team problems.
  • [Nice to have] Experience operating in fintech, payments, credit, or other regulated domains.
  • [Nice to have] Experience leading teams in international or multi-region environments.
  • [Nice to have] Startup experience/founder experience.

Our mission at Plaid is to unlock financial freedom for everyone. To support that mission, we seek to build a diverse team of driven individuals who care deeply about making the financial ecosystem more equitable. We recognize that strong qualifications can come from both prior work experiences and lived experiences. We encourage you to apply to a role even if your experience doesn’t fully match the job description. We are always looking for team members that will bring something unique to Plaid!

Plaid is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion or religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, military or veteran status, disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Plaid is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance with your application or interviews due to a disability, please let us know.

Engineering Manager - Europe in London employer: Plaid

Plaid is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, empowering employees to take ownership of their projects while driving meaningful change in the financial landscape. With a strong focus on professional growth, team members benefit from clear coaching and goal-setting, alongside opportunities to work on cutting-edge technology in a diverse and inclusive environment. Located in Europe, this role offers the unique advantage of being part of a transatlantic open banking provider, allowing you to make a significant impact on fintech expansion across multiple markets.

Plaid

Contact Detail:

Plaid Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Engineering Manager - Europe in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their products, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. We want you to shine!

Tip Number 3

Showcase your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or projects that demonstrate your engineering prowess, make sure to highlight them during your conversations. It’s all about standing out!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!

We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Manager - Europe in London

Team Leadership
Coaching
Technical Direction
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Roadmap Development
Technical Design
Quality Assurance

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Engineering Manager role. Highlight your experience in leading teams and managing projects, especially in fintech or related fields. We want to see how your unique background aligns with our mission at Plaid!

Showcase Your Leadership Style:In your application, share examples of how you've built strong engineering teams and fostered a positive culture. We’re all about collaboration and growth, so let us know how you’ve coached your team members to success!

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and experiences. We appreciate clarity, and it helps us understand your journey better!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining the Plaid family!

How to prepare for a job interview at Plaid

Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around distributed systems and financial infrastructure. Be ready to discuss your past experiences in engineering management and how you've built strong teams. This role is all about leading a team of engineers, so showcasing your technical judgment will be key.

Understand the Company’s Mission

Familiarise yourself with Plaid's mission to unlock financial freedom and how they operate within the fintech space. Being able to articulate how your values align with theirs will show that you're not just looking for any job, but that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.

Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration

Since this role involves working closely with Product, Design, and business leaders, think of examples from your past where you've successfully collaborated across teams. Be ready to discuss how you can bridge gaps between engineering and other departments to drive outcomes effectively.

Showcase Your Leadership Style

As the senior-most engineering leader in Europe, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership approach. Prepare to talk about how you set clear goals, provide coaching, and build a strong team culture. Think of specific instances where you've helped your team grow and overcome challenges.